Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms: SCSI (SmallComputer Systems Interface, pronounced "scuzzy")
SCSI (SmallComputer Systems Interface, pronounced "scuzzy")
a standardway of interfacing a computer to disk drives, tape drives, and other devices that require high-speed data transfer. Up to seven SCSI devices can be linked to a single SCSI port. Thus, a single SCSI adapter can interface a computer to one or more hard disks, a CD-ROM drive, a tape drive, and a scanner (see Figure 235).
The cable that comes out of a SCSI port is essentially an 8-bit bus (or 16- or 32-bit if it follows the newer SCSI-2 or SCSI-3 standard). The devices connected to it are daisy-chained with a SCSI terminator (a resistor pack) at the end. Each device, including the SCSI port itself, has an address between 0 and 7 inclusive; most addresses are switchselectable to prevent conflicts.Contrast ESDI IDE.
